Now who wouldn't hightail from that?!
It was one of those moments when Sam realized that surviving Zone Four didn't mean they were safe, because death by invitation was suddenly very much on the table.
Thankfully, the same young lord who had just sent them to the metaphorical guillotine also calmly added that participants in the Zone Four battle had received invitations as a token of appreciation from DG.
The instant those words left Luca's mouth, the intensity of the gazes around them shifted. It didn't diminish, but this time, people nodded instead of just staring like predators.
One attendee even said approvingly, "No wonder you rushed over to help. That's good. Very good."
But before Sam could respond, a small voice cut in with unexpected seriousness.
"Mister," the child asked, looking innocently yet determinedly between the two soldiers, "what are you getting?"
The adults nearby paused.
The parents stiffened.
Sam and Marco both froze.
